"Yeah, there has been a lot of change in the playing ranks. We've got plenty of new boys in this year and it feels like we've gotten younger again.

"To me, that's been really exciting. Particularly as captain, most of the guys coming in are open books.

"We're all on the same page, pushing in the same direction and it's got me excited about what we could do."

There's no question the Bulldogs' midfield packs a punch.

Hunter and Macrae are ball magnets, Bontempelli is a genuine star and a rejuvenated Liberatore can help lift the club's contested ball back to 2016 levels.

Down back, the Bulldogs also look well stocked.

Naughton and Bailey Williams could be defensive mainstays for the next decade, joining Dale Morris and Wood in a strong back six.

It's in the tall stocks and up front where the Bulldogs might be stretched.

Tom Boyd's absence for half the season will be keenly felt, with Jackson Trengove a likely replacement in ruck.

At 21, Josh Schache has raced to put on weight this season to leave an impact in the forward line, given the lack of other towering targets inside 50.

Sam Lloyd's arrival from Richmond should help the Bulldogs given the 29-year-old's undoubted class.

But plainly the Bulldogs need a spearhead - Billy Gowers led the Dogs' goalkickers with just 26 majors last year - as well as a greater spread given only seven players kicked more than 10 for the season.

On paper, the draw gives the Bulldogs a chance to jump ahead of the ledger early.

An opening-round visit by Sydney is followed by matches with Hawthorn, Gold Coast, Carlton, Fremantle and Brisbane within the next seven rounds.

The Bulldogs play 17 times in Victoria with 12 matches at Marvel and two in Ballarat.

Outside expectations are still far from high but Wood can live with that.

"There's always reason why people think you can't do things but I'd rather focus on the reasons why we can," the skipper said.

One to watch: Josh Schache. There are better players on the Bulldogs list but the bulked-up key forward prospect is crucial to whether the Bulldogs can take flight in 2019. With Tom Boyd sidelined for half a season, they need a big body inside the 50m arc and Schache looms as the man.

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